Vehicle-windshield



L. A. HILL.

VEHICLE WINDSHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED JAN,8, 1917. RENEWED MAR. 16, 1920.

1 3 1 L154L Patented May 25, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L. A. HILL. VEHICLE WINDSHIELD. APPLICATION FILED JAN.8, 1917. RENEWED MAR. 16, 1920.

Patented May 25, 1920..

2 SHEETSQSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT caries.

VEHICLE-WINDSHIELD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 8, 1917, Serial No. 141.,343. Renewed March 16, 1920. Serial No. 366,441.

To all whom it may concern.- Be it known that 1, Louis A. HILL, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Windshields, of which the following is a full and clear specification.

In the pleasure motor vehicles now in. general use, the wind-shield must be high enough to form the front wallof the storm inclosure when the top is up, it being the common practice to detachably fasten the forward edge of the top to the upper edge of the wind-shield. This necessity for making the wind-shield high enough to form an effective front wall for the storm superstructure ren'ders the wind-shield considerably higher than it needs to be when the top is down and its sole function is to deflect the wind over the heads of the passengers. To reduce the height of the wind-shield when the car is thus run as an open car, it is common to divide the wind-shield horizontally into two sections and to so mountthe upper section that it may either be swung to horizontal position or be folded down in front or behind the lower section. Thus disposing of the upper section is objectionable for a number of obvious reasons. It is one of the objects of my-invention to provide a disposition of the upper section of the wind-shield that will get it entirely out of the way, not only of the vision of the driver, but also in such position that it will be protected against injury. In order to accomplish this object, I propose to permanently attach the upper section of the windshield to the forward edge of the top and to detachably connect said upper section to the lower section of the wind-shield, the arrangement being such that the upper section of the wind-shield will be carried back and folded with the bow of the top in such manner that it will lie among the folds of the fabric and extend across the extreme rear end of the rear of the vehicle, so that it will be covered and protected by the usual boot employed for enveloping the folded top.

Another object of my invention is to provide the upper section of the wind-shield with a vizor-like section which may be ex- *tended obliquely downwardly and forwardly, so that it will deflect rain and snow away from the upper part of the windshield and thus keep said upper part clear of rain and snow, so that at all times the chauffeur will have a clear View ahead through the up er section, this vizor section bemg arrange downwardly to enable its inclination to be varied to suitthe'character of storm.

Another object of my invention is to provide either thelower edge of the transparent vizor section or the lower edge of the transparent upper wind-shield section, or both the vizor section and said upper section, with an integral gutter, curving forwardly and upwardly, so that the moisture that runs down the front face of either of these sections will be caught by the gutter and deliveredat one side of the vehicle, whereby the moisture that thus runs down the front faceiof either of these sections will be prevented from being blown into the vehicle through the crack between the upper and lower sections of the wind-shield proper, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a touring car of well known type equipped with my improved wind-shield;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the car showing the vehicle top raised and the wind-shield in position for utilizing all its sections;

Fig. 3 is a vertical side elevation, partly broken away, showing the position of the parts while in use;

Fig. 4 is an inside view of the windshield, partly in section;

1 Fig. 5 is a plan view of part of the shield showing its adjustment when in use;

.1 Fig. 6 is a view showing the upper members of the shield folded into the vehicle top, preparatory to folding the top back upon the rear part of the vehicle;

Figs. 1 2, 3 4 and 5 views generally similar to the views on Sheet 1, illustrating another type of my invention.

Referring to the drawings annexed by letters, a designates the usuaLtransparent lower section of the wind-shield which is pivotally mounted in the usual manner upon the side standards I). The upper transparent section 0 of the wind-shield is pivotally connected to a pair of arms d which are rigidly attached to the rod 6 journaled in a pair of brackets f affixed permanently to the front bar of the bow g of the vehicle top. Affixed rigidly to each of the arms dis a supplemental standard it Patented May 25, 1920.

to swing upwardly and" which is made hollow at its free end to telescope down over the upper end of the adjacent standard 12, a suitable device, such as a spring catch 2', being employed to temporarily lock this supplemental standard to the main standard, the extreme upper end of the main standard being rounded and notched to permit the catch 1' to automatically snap into engagement therewith when the supplemental standards are slipped down over the main standards.

The pivotal connection of the section 0 with the arms (Z is preferably a frictional one, to enable the section to be angularly adjusted and held in its adjusted position. Any of the well known types of frictional joint may be used. With this construction it will be seen that when it is desired to put the top down, the supplemental standards h are unlatched from the main standards and the supplemental standards are slipped off the main standards; then the upper section of the wind-shield together with the supplemental standards is carried back to the rear of thevehicle with the bow g 'of the top. When thus folded back, the section 0 and the supplemental standards are swung upwardly into the top, as shown in Fig. 6, so that when the top is completely folded upon the back of the vehicle the rod 0 and the upper section 0 will lie across the back -of the vehicle upon the folds of the top fabric in such position that they will be completely covered by the usual boot. The supplemental standards it will also lie upon the folds of the fabric and be covered, and, if the length of this supplemental'standard is such that the standard will extend far enough forwardly to be'in the way of the occupants of the rear seat, I propose to put a hinge joint j in the standard, at a point adjacent to its connection to the arm d, to enable it to be swung around to a position approximately parallel with the cross bar of thebow.

I also attach to the rotatable rod 6,

through the medium of a pairof arms 70,.

a transparent vizor Z, the vizor section being pivotally connected to said arms by any suitable friction joint to enable it to be adjusted angularly with respect to the wind-shield proper. This vizor section is sufiiciently wide to enable it, when adjusted. to incline forwardly and downwardly in front of the wind-shield proper, to deflect rain and snow from the upper part of the wind-shield, to thereby keep said upper part sufficiently clear to enable the chauffeur to always have a clearview of the road ahead of the vehicle. It will be observed that when the top is put down,'this vizor section may be swung up into the top with the section 0 and standards I), asshown in Fig. 6, so that when the top is folded back this vizor section will lie approximately spring Z house parallel with or upon the upper section a of the wind-shield, so that this vizor section also will be covered by the boot when the same is slipped over the folded top. To permit the two upper sections 0 and Z to be adjusted independently of each other and to permit them to be stored in the top in the manner set forth, it will be noted that I have arranged the arms 03 and k at approximately right angles to each other on the rotatable tube 6. It is desirable also that the rod e shall have a frictional fit in the journal brackets 7, so that in manipulating the vehicle top the upper members of the shield will not swing about too freely, but preferably will remain folded or stored in-the top, in the manner shown in Fig. 6, during the act of folding the top back and also in extending the top to bring it to a point where the supplemental standards will fit down on to the main standards.

Along the lower edge of either the vizor section or the upper section 0 ofthe windshield proper, I form an integral gutter m which extends forwardly and upwardly and serves to collect any moisture that may run down the face of the glass and carry it to one or both sides of the vehicle, and thus prevent it from being blown through the crack between the upper an lower sections ofthe wind-shield proper. This gutter m extends entirely to the edge of the pane of glass so that the water will be delivered at the sides of the wind-shield, passing under the lower ends of the usual'frame pieces a of the wind-shield or vizor section.

To further increase the utility of the vizor section, I propose to make the same of suitably colored glass, amber being preferred, so that when the car is running against the sun the vizor section may be swung downwardly far enough to form in effect an eyeshield for the driver.

In Figs. 1 to 5, I show another embodiment of my invention. In this modified device, I pivot the supplemental standards and the upper sections of tho shield'on'a rod d which is non rotatively connected to the side bars of the bow of the vehicle, these members being prevented from bodily sliding 011 the rod d by means of collars d. Any suitable frictional joint or hearing may be employed for holding the parts in their adjusted position on'the rod; in Fig. 5, I show one way of accomplishing this, the construction illgstrated consisting of a coil .in the hub of the supplemental standard h and arranged to normally press outwardly in opposite directions a pair of friction collars 711/ whose outer faces are serrated to frictionally interlock with similar serrations in the adjacent faces of the hubs z" of the members 0 and Z.

- It will be observed that the scope of my claims is such that many other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore desire to make it plain that I do not limit myself to the specific structures illustrated and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combinationwith a vehicle provided with a folding top,'of a wind shield composed of an upper transparent section and a lower transparent section, the lower section being mounted on the vehicle proper and the upper section'beingpermanently attached to the front end of the top, means being provided for detachably attaching the upper section to the lower section when the top is raised, whereby when the top is put down the upper section of the wind shield will be carried back. with it to the rear of the vehicle.

2. The combination with a vehicle provided with a folding top, of a wind shield composed of an upper transparent section and a lower transparent section, the lower section being mounted on the vehicle proper and the upper section being permanently attached to the front end of the top, means being provided for detachably attaching the upper section to the lower section when the top is raised, whereby when the top is put down the upper section of the wind shield will be carried back with it to the rear of the vehicle, said upper section having a pivotal connection with thetop to enable it to be swung down to a position approximately horizontal when the top is folded down.

3. The combination with a vehicle provided with a folding top, of a wind shield composed of an upper transparent section and a lower transparent section, the lower section being mounted on the vehicle proper and the upper section being permanently attached to the front end of the top, means being provided for detachably attaching the upper section to the lower section when the 1 top is raised, whereby when the top is put down the upper section of the wind shield will be carried back with it to the rear of the vehicle, the means for connecting said upper section to the top consisting of a transverse rod attached to the bow of the top and having said upper section connected thereto.

4. The combination with a vehicle provided with a folding top, of a wind shield composed of an upper transparent section and a lower transparent section, the lower section being mounted on the yehicle proper and the upper section being permanently attached to the front end of the top, means be ing provided for detachably attaching the upper section to the lower section when the top is raised, whereby when the top is put down the upper section of the wind shield will be carried back with it to the rear of the vehicle, the means for connecting said upper section to-the top consisting of a transverse rod attached to the bow of the top and having said upper section connected thereto, said means for detachably connecting the upper section'to the lower section embodying a pair of supplemental standards adapted for connection to the standa section being mounted on the vehicle proper andlthe upper section being permanently attached to the front end of the top, means being provided for detachably attaching the upper section to the lower section when the top is raised, whereby when the top is put down the upper section of the wind shield will be carried back with it to the rear of the vehicle, and a vizor section also connected to the forward end of the top so as to be carried back with the upper section of thewind shield,

6. The combination with a vehicle provided with a folding top, of a wind shield composed of an upper transparent section and a lower transparent section, the lower section being mounted on the vehicle proper and the upper section being permanently attached to the front end of the top, means being provided for detachably attaching the upper section to the lower section when the top is raised, whereby when the top is put down the upper section of the wind shield will be carried back with it to the rear of the vehicle, and a vizor section also connected to the forward end of the top so as to be carried back with the upper section of the wind shield, said vizor section being pivotally connected to the top so as to be capable composed of an upper transparent section and a lower transparent section, the lower section being mounted on the vehicle proper and the upper section being permanently at tached to the front end of the top, means being provided for detachably attaching the upper section to the lower section when the top is raised, whereby when the top is put down the upper section of the wind shield will be carried back with it to the rear of the vehicle, the means for connecting said upper section to the top consisting of a transverse rod rotatably attached to the bow of the top and having said upper section connected thgreto, and a vizor section mounted on said ro 8. The combination with a vehicle having a folding top and also a wind-shieldsection at its front end, of an upper transparent wind-shield section carried by the top at the front end thereof and adapted to be folded t0 the rear part of the vehicle with the top,

'pivotally connecting them at their upper edges to the top, said means embodying a rotatable rod and two pairs of arms arranged at angles to each other, said arms being rigidly connected to the rod and pivot-- ally connected to the sections, and means for temporarily locking said two upper sections to the aforesaid lower section of the windshield when the top is put up and extended.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix'my signature.

, LOUIS A. HILL. 

